DAVAO DEL NORTE, Jan 26 (PIA) -- The provincial government responded immediately to the needs of thousands of residents affected by the massive flooding that recently hit the province.

After dispatching the rescue teams from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) to assist local rescuers at the height of the flash floods since Sunday, the province promptly responded to the requests of the flood-hit municipalities for augmentation of relief assistance.

As of January 21, the province has already distributed 10,753 family food packs to the municipalities of Asuncion, B.E. Dujali, Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella, and Sto. Tomas, as well as, Tagum City.

Another 5,500 food packs were sent off to Carmen, B.E. Dujali, and Talaingod on Tuesday.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Arlene Semblante said the food packs were provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The recent flood caused by the tail-end of a cold front overshadowed the impact of typhoon Pablo in the province, as this new typhoon affected an initial 18,690 families or 84,305 persons across the province, according to the January 22 report of the PDRRMO.

Two casualties were reported in the torrent that rendered six major roads in the province impassable to vehicles. Affected residents numbering 58,126 individuals were also evacuated to various evacuation centers. Local DRRMOs are now assessing the impact to crops and infrastructures.

The PDRRMO added all the evacuees in Asuncion and Kapalong, as well as, those in some barangays of New Corella have already returned home, while the rest of the evacuees in the other flood-affected LGUs remained in the designated evacuation centers.

They fear the possibility of repeated flash floods and landslides, due to continued rain showers brought about by an intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting the area.

Semblante assured all the flood-stricken families will receive their share of the food packs as more relief assistance are coming from the DSWD.

She revealed the province now has received over P41-million worth of relief assistance from the agency since Pablo. (Noel Baguio-DN info)